VIDEO: Seattle earthquake viaduct simulation released; timing politically motivated?
Alaskan Way Viaduct earthquake simulation -- Click above to watch video
The Alaskan Way Viaduct (AWV) is an elevated roadway running along the Elliot Bay Waterway in Seattle. An earthquake in 2001 damaged the viaduct, and the structural degradation has only gotten worse over the years. To forestall the possibility of having the conduit collapse in another natural disaster, the city and Port of Seattle, King County, and the state government agreed earlier this year to dig a deep-bore tunnel to go under the waterway and eventually shut down the viaduct.
According to the Seattle Times, the tunnel is a contentious issue, with residents fervently pro and against. Two years ago, though, the state commissioned a video to show what would happen to the AWV if another serious earthquake hit. The six-minute CGI video that resulted could be a clip right out of the disaster movie 2012, and because of its sensationalism, it was never shown. Seattle resident Elizabeth Campbell doesn't want the tunnel and recently requested to have the video released. After saying that Campbell wouldn't get it for eight months, the city put the video on a local news show – and Campbell still hasn't received her copy.
Naturally, there's some political intrigue to accompany everything. The problem is that there's a mayoral race happening right now, with the current mayor siding for the tunnel and his opponent is against it. It has therefore been suggested that the video has been released in order to help that current mayor's campaign – you would not want to be anywhere near the AWV and phrases like "liquefied soil" if the video is anywhere close to reality. Whether it will affect votes remains to be seen. Either way, you can check out the video footage for yourself after the jump.
[Source: Seattle Times]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Tourian 11:35AM (10/30/2009)
12/21/12?
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iijohn88ii 11:53AM (10/30/2009)
nothing will happen in 2012. Yea I know, that's when the Aztecs calender ends, but their calender only ended because they got wiped out by Spaniards. That's why their calender ended .
I still remember the Y2K crap...
JZeke 12:40PM (10/30/2009)
Its Mayan, not Aztec, and all refers to a single passage - partially defaced no less, on a single monument found only in one location in southern Mexico.
All other Mayan writings never mention this 13th baktun (their unit of long-calendar measurement) in any prophetic way.
This road will collapse regardless of what's written on tablets, and when the concrete and steel can't take anymore.
Nightcrawler 4:36PM (10/30/2009)
Gee thanks iijohn88ii. I was all worried until you reassured me.
Dill 11:36AM (10/30/2009)
That is why I live in Iowa.
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PiCASSO 11:52AM (10/30/2009)
Chicago for me... :)
iijohn88ii 11:55AM (10/30/2009)
Texas!!!
Sea Urchin 11:55AM (10/30/2009)
Laplandia
Farris 12:13PM (10/30/2009)
How're those tornadoes working for ya? :P
That's why I live in Eastern WA. The only thing I have to deal with is the occasional 50 mph wind gust. Other than that... no real natural disasters to worry about.
Joe 12:16PM (10/30/2009)
Los Angeles! Wait... Crap.
Geep 3:13AM (10/31/2009)
Hah, love people who say ".....thats why I live in ____."
No its not.
dukeisduke 11:39AM (10/30/2009)
Sorry, but I don't think a tunnel or an elevated roadway is the answer. Replace it with a surface highway, with over/underpasses where necessary.
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Cornholio 2:58PM (10/30/2009)
You obviously don't live in Seattle. There's no room for that solution.
Luis 6:57PM (10/31/2009)
They should tear it down and replace it with a boulevard. You want to go "through" Seattle use alternate routes outside downtown.
atc98092 7:28PM (10/31/2009)
Luis:
If you lived here, you'd know there's few options through Seattle other than the viaduct and Interstate 5. Seattle is boxed in on both west and east sides by water, and these are the only two fairly fast ways north-south. There are no "alternate" routes.
The problem with the tunnel they want to build is the entire waterfront is fill, and my personal opinion is the tunnel is going to be a huge cost overrun, assuming it can ever be completed. Personally, while I avoid Seattle when I can (live to the south) if they build the tunnel I'll likely never travel into Seattle again. I'll take the long way around Lake Washington if I have to go north. They'll never get me to use that tunnel. One of our occasional earthquakes and that tunnel will become very waterlogged!
CharcoalSTI 11:45AM (10/30/2009)
Surface highway is not an option and the seawall needs replacing anyway. I drive on the AWV every day....that sucker is going to come down wether we like it or not.
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dukeisduke 11:48AM (10/30/2009)
My brother went through the Nisqually quake. Fortunately he lived in Renton at the time, on solid rock. He only got some mild shaking. Now he lives out on Whidbey Island.
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bajabusta 10:33PM (10/30/2009)
I worked downtown Seattle in an old Nordstrom Building built in the 20's during that quake, it was pretty dang scary! Ironically now I LIVe in Renton!!
Sea Urchin 11:50AM (10/30/2009)
"The problem is that there's a mayoral race happening right now, with the current mayor siding for the tunnel and his opponent is against it. It has therefore been suggested that the video has been released in order to help that current mayor's campaign "-----------This is the latest scare tactic by the party of the mayor. They really enjoy keeping everything in the dark, suppress free speech, use taxpayers money for the benefits of unions, lawyers and Goldman Sachs
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JDJase 8:55PM (10/30/2009)
Too bad the person who wrote this story didn't do ANY research.
The mayor doesn't have an opponent, because they Mayor isn't running...he came in 3rd in the primary and so he has not been a candidate since AUGUST, and therefore is not qualified to run.
So, nice theory that this was released to help the mayor in the election. Except the mayor isn't in the election.